G1 Fastnet Rock Stallion to Join Darren Weir

Media Release - Wednesday September 5

Group One winning galloper Age Of Fire has joined the stable of champion Victorian trainer Darren Weir in a bid to find his mojo this spring.

Age of Fire - Trish DunnellThe four-year-old entire by Fastnet Rock won last season's Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) for Te Akau Racing, but has looked lethargic in two trials this preparation.

"We sent him to Darren Weir to try and put a bit of enthusiasm back into him," Te Akau principal David Ellis said.

"He was just going through the motions and we thought training him on the beach and with his expertise we could turn his form around.

"He is a very good horse on his day and he has been bought to stand at Cambridge Stud, so we thought we would give him every opportunity to perform at the elite level in Melbourne in spring."

Age Of Fire was also runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (1600m) and has only finished out of the money in two of his nine career starts.

Advertisement

Meanwhile, Ellis has reported that last weekend's Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) victor Melody Belle has come through the race in fine fettle and will have one more start this campaign.

"She'll have one more start in the Windsor Park Plate over a mile and then she will have a breather and be prepared for the big sprints over summer including the Railway and Telegraph.

"She can then have another ten days in the paddock and go to Sydney or Brisbane in the autumn." – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Melbourne Cup Next for UK Raider Onesmoothoperator
Winner of the Group III Geelong Cup last year at his first Australian appearance, UK trained stayer Onesmoothoperator (USA) had not won a race since then but was back in the winning groove last night take out the $750,000 Group II MVRC Moonee Valley Cup (2500m).
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
The Rosehill trials on Friday morning featured a couple of juvenile heats and both winners came out of the Widden Stud draft at Magic Millions with one topping the sale at $2.8million and the other selling for a modest $150,000.
Second Wootton Bassett Son Added to Coolmore Stallion Roster for 2026
Set to join Camille Pissarro as the second G1 winning son of Wootton Bassett on the stallion roster for Ireland in 2026 is Henri Matisse, who this time last year was about to claim his first G1 victory at the Breeders Cup meeting at Del Mar.
Milestone for Fastnet Rock
Champion sire Fastnet Rock clocked up his 100th Graded stakes-winner at the weekend in the US when five year-old entire Desert Stone captured the Group II San Gabriel Stakes at Santa Anita.
More G1 Success for Fastnet Rock’s Avantage
A Champion 2YO that won the Karaka Million in 2018, quality Fastnet Rock mare Avantage again showed her class at Trentham on Saturday when scoring a determined victory in the Group I JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) defeating Enzo’s Lad, who had won the previous two editions of the prestigious sprint.
Nicks That Click – Looks Like This One Has Worked Again
This nick involving two champion sires is well proven and documented with a two year-old winner last Saturday appearing as the latest example.
Good News Week for Geisel Park
Geisel Park’s black-type mare Laced Up Heels is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australian Sire Zoustar and an orphan foal has found a new mum.
$1million Fastnet Rock Colt Chasing Karaka Million 3YO
Victorian trainer David Hayes will be in New Zealand later this week as he puts the finishing touches on three-year-old colt Conqueror ahead of Saturday’s $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).
Magic Millions First Digital Sale - Opportunities Aplenty
Bidding is now open for the first Magic Millions Digital Sale with opportunities across all levels of the market for prospective buyers.
A Century of NZB National Yearling Sales Success: Cox Plate
Moonee Valley’s A$6m Group One WS Cox Plate (2040m) is known as the weight-for-age championship of Australasia and has been won by many of Australia and New Zealand’s greatest thoroughbreds.